Blood Frenzy

"Where are they?!" The massive warcaster named Orsus Zoktavir was also known as the Butcher of Khardov. He held a battered Cygnaran stormguard by the collar on one hand and his bloodied Lola on the other hand. He was shouting, his voice likened to a mad growl. His men stood a respectable distance from him, and with reason.

The stormguard tried to speak despite half-drowning on the blood in his throat. Tried but failed. Before a word could be discerned from the wounded Cygnaran, the Butcher flung him to the ground and buried his heavy axe on the back of his skull.

Orsus raised his head and turned his eyes to the horizon. He could see some mechaniks trying to hurriedly salvage parts of the Thunderhead that he broke earlier.

A demolisher whispered a suggestion to the kapitan of his unit. "Do we give chase to the Cygnarans?"

As if possessing uncanny hearing, the Butcher interrupted before the demolisher kapitan could answer.

"No. I want those weaklings alive. They will lead us to them."

Orsus flicked off the blood on Lola with a wide swing. "Set up camp here," the warcaster commanded, "And tell Marzog to track those Cygnarans."

"Marzog is wounded, sir," answered one of the demolishers. "The greylords are treating him now."

The Butcher turned an annoyed glance at the men-o-war. "Tell him if he does not track the Cygnarans, I will kill him. Tell him now, or I will kill you, too."

There was an uneasy but very quick pause. With a salute, the demolishers took their leave and headed towards the greylords' tents.

+++

I've been playing with the Butcher for the last three games. I've taken some aspects of how Arvin plays his Butcher, and from what I've read online. His damage output is tremendously impressive, but from my experience with playing him against Taks' Caine, he takes a bit more finesse than Vlad or Irusk to be played to his utmost effeciency.

I have felled Tiny's Thunderhead in two games by the Butcher alone -- the first one took two swings, the second one three (Thunderhead had Arcane Shield on him that time). Both were on the Blood Frenzy. I have also brought down Ronald's Titan Cannoneer in two attacks.

Unexpectedly, the Kodiak and the Spriggan prove to be very good choices with Butcher. Running for free with All-Terrain, and the other firing off Flash Bang that messes up infantry orders -- and both veritably tough as nails. Having two ARM 20 jacks in Mosh Pit is nice ^_^

Even without an Eiryss, I think the Butcher can lay low any warcaster sitting on all FOC. And with a formidable MAT 9, he'll be hitting a lot without the need of boosts to hit.

All in all, I feel I still need to play more using Butcher to see how my opponents exploit his flaws so that I can find ways to deal with them.

Blood of the Land

The manhunter named Marzog has never felt so much pride. Pride and awe and fear all in one mixed whirlwind of emotions. Marzog is Ra'du's apprentice so to speak. And as always, a Khadoran's first exposure to war will be one carried all throughout one's life. But with Marzog it was different. His mentor has given him one of the best honors that a Khadoran could ever have.

To fight with a legend.

Zevanna Agha was her name. She was called the Old Witch of Khador by some. But everyone in the Motherland knew of the power she possesses.

"Marzog," the witch's voice a hoarse cackle that echoed throughout the field, "I want that Stormclad out of commission."

A fiery pride welled up in the manhunter. And he obeyed without question. Bounding through the brush with great strength and axes in hand, the world and everything around him seemed to slow. A personal command from the Old Witch is a great honor. Marzog had no doubt or hesitation in his heart. Alone, he shall bring down the massive Cygnaran warjack.

+++

Lifted from Karmic Backstab:

I've also played 500 points using the Old Witch of Khador. This one was against Obi's Commander Adept Sebastian Nemo. As expected, Obi was a lot sharper this time around, using terrain and fellow models to screen his warcaster. With a streak of luck, my Manhunter managed to tie up his Stormclad for two full turns, the Cygnaran warjack missing all melee attacks horribly. I also pumped out Page 5 here full force, giving up my Man-O-War Demolition Corps and Widowmakers to position my forces better and draw his forces in even more.

One of the more funky moves I liked was casting Slaughter on the Scrapjack inside Gorman's smokes, casting Murder of Crows in the center of Obi's expensive Stormblade unit, using Unseen Path and `porting the Scrapjack right smack in there. The remaining Stormblades was deftly put down.

The best move in that game by far is more serendipitous than actually planned. I was supposed to activate Gorman first, and flinging Rust towards the Stormclad so that the Manhunter can dismantle more metal from the `jack. Instead, I was left with a yet-to-activate Gorman and the Old Witch. Nemo can be charged by the remaining Demolishers but then again, it'd be way more rewarding if the Old Witch can kill Nemo instead.

And so it hit me.

I activated Gorman first so that he can put the Old Witch in a cloud with Smoke Bomb. Then activating the Witch, I used Unseen Path and displaced her from inside the cloud and reappear inside the upkept Murder of Crows very near Nemo. I then declared her to charge and the rest was history.

Godhead's Folly

"Protectorate cavalry!" The Winterguard rang the warning, echoing their Kovnik's first call. "Protectorate Vengers on our left flank!" Guardsman Antonov Steiner was newly assigned to the unit. He was fresh off the academy somewhere in occupied Llael, hefting the new Khadoran rockets. He scanned the ruins in front of him and he nearly missed the exemplar errants a few yards before them.

"Errants on the fore!" he shouted, alerting his unit.

"Guardsman Antonov," it was Kovnik Grigorovich, "bear those rockets at seventeen, zero and zero! Guardsman Nikolai and Guardsman Sven! Assist fire Antonov's remaining rockets at seventeen-nine and seventeen-fifteen! They have a mage hunter there as well! Fire when ready!"

Three thundering explosions followed the three dull thumps from Antonov's rockets. Two errants were left shaken but still trying to stand. The Protectorate mage hunter flitted behind the ruins unscathed.

"Damn it all!" Kovnik Josef cursed loudly, "Winterguard, I do not want that mage hunter anywhere near the kommandant! Understood?"

"Affirmative, kovnik!" chorused the Winterguard.

+++

It was night time. And it was raining heavily. But from the Harbinger came a light so bright the whole battlefield shone like the sun itself. Two widowmakers stood and was entranced by the divine grandness of it all. But such is the power of the Harbinger that only the sheared shadows were left of the Khadoran snipers.

At the same time, the lead venger slammed into the solid wall of Iron Fangs.

"Pikemen!" bellowed Kapitan Alexei, feeling the burning vigor of Irusk's Battle Lust magick, "Put the Harbinger to your rear and keep the light from your eyes! I want these horsemen dead now! Scythe formation! Paired strikes on the riders!"

And with a seemingly fluid motion, the pikemen, all in the red aura of Irusk's spell, took a pivot at their heels and drove their blasting pikes at the vengers. Of the three hardy vengers, two fell at the Iron Fangs' attack. None of the pikemen fell at the Harbinger's deadly Godhead.

+++


"For our kovnik! Keep this bastard held!" Kapitan Alexei was already on the ground, clutching a bleeding wound on his gut. He was inching a crawl towards the fallen Grigorovich. Amidst his pikemen was Dartan Vilmon, a renowned Menite paladin. He has just felled three Greylords and is now barreling his way through the ranks of the Iron Fangs, their pikes scratching naught his magical aura.

His eyes came upon Kommandant Irusk, slowly making his way around the melee of the Fangs and Vilmon. He knew that he may not survive the battle, especially if the paladin of Menoth reaches him. But despite the knowledge of impending death, Iron Fang Alexia let out a hearty chuckle. He fought side by side with not only Kovnik Grigorovich, but also the legendary Kommandant Irusk as well. And the strong strides of Irusk across the battlefield told him that he will not die a meaningless death.

"Winterguard!" Irusk's voice seemingly amplified with magick, "All to fire on the Harbinger! Bleed this whelp!" The large unit of Winterguard rushed forward, bringing all the blunderbusses to bear, and unleashed a tumultuous barrage at the Menite warcaster. The Harbinger's armor seemed to be as shattered glass. Her aura dimmed as she dipped slowly to the ground.

"For the motherland," Irusk sneered, firing an arcane-powered shot with his sword cannon.

+++

Scenario: 500 pts SR3 Beta Assassins
Opponent: Ian "Fluffy" Peña
Opposing warcaster: The Harbinger of Menoth

Evidently, Fluffy's gotten blanked when he moved his Vengers to engage my IFP. But I guess most of the boys had a nice reaction on how I dealt with Harbinger's Godhead. By turning the IFP so as not to have LOS to the Harbinger, they were unharmed by that feat. And at the same time, they managed to down the Venger leader, as well as an 8-wound cavalry model.

The Harbinger effectively bitchslaps my Inhospitable Ground tactic. I guess my only consolation with that is she'll be left with fewer FOC by using Purification.

Superiority

"I will be directing my forces south, kommandant," Vladimir Tzepesci spoke with a thick accent. "My sources inform me that there is heavy activity of Cryx and Orboros there."

"Prince Vlad," Irusk interjected, "Merywyn is to the south. The Protectorate is now in alliance with them. Furthermore, I have received no official marque of deploying our forces toward Merywyn." The kommandant laid a stern look at his fellow warcaster.

Vlad paused uneasily and started to turn away.

"There is no order to march south, Prince Vlad," Irusk's tone was louder this time.

"My sources are infallible," Vlad replied, "And my war group has already made preparations."

"Prince Vlad!" the kommandant shouted, "You are bordering on insubordination! Your actions have not been cleared with the council and your attitude is disapprovingly discourteous!"

Vlad started to walk away. "As I have said, preparations have already been made. I will be taking the Behemoth."

"You should take heed of the word of the council for they are of the Empress," the kommandant addressed, "And not of that old witch!"

Irusk knew those words struck as offensive to the prince, but Vlad seemed to ignore the remark.

+++

"Prince Vlad," Irusk shouted across the field, "I offer you this final warning. Turn back. Or I will have you dragged back!"

Vlad reached for the complex cortex of the massive warjack before him. "This matter does not concern you, kommandant. I regret, but you are in my way."

The double bombards of the Behemoth took bear and with a loud thunder, let loose against Irusk's assembled war group.

+++

"You dare!" shouted Kapitan Alexei, "you dare raise your arms against your kommandant!" His pikemen just finished off Vlad's Drakhun's massive mount, Irusk's strong winds preventing his men from being charged. Drawing their weapons from the fallen steed's corpse, they slam their shields close fluidly, reading for the Drakhun's attack.

Spinning his massive annihilator blade, the dismounted Drakhun charged at the Iron Fang rank. Suddenly, an extremely loud boom echoed. The Drakhun slowed and dropped his weapon, the armor covering his torso massively blown apart. Kommandant Irusk stood behind the line of his pikemen, his sword cannon glowing with arcane energy.

"Death to the traitors of the Motherland," he muttered. The lined Iron Fangs answered with an exuberant howl.

+++


The Behemoth's chassis groaned under the strain. There was no more energy being pumped to its lower limbs. The Winterguards' precise blunderbuss barrage succeeded in crippling the gigantic warjack.

"Submit, Vlad!" Irusk shouted, almost muted by the loud crash as the disabled Behemoth hit the ground.

The prince was ablaze with his own Blood of Kings. His voice rang clear across the field although it was just but a whisper. "I am beyond you, kommandant. You know not of what you are meddling with!"

"You do not control my destiny."

Seeing that he was alone on the battlefield, his war group asunder, Vlad turned his back to Irusk once again and walked away.

+++

Scenario: 500 points SR3 Beta Assassins
Opponent: Dick Sy
Opposing warcaster: Dark Prince Vlad

I succeeded in keeping Vlad and his forces at bay by spamming Inhospitable Ground.

I took out the Drakhun foremost, because it would be the one who would move farthest into rough terrain with Vlad's Boundless Charge.

Next, I tried to bring down the Behemoth since it was firing it's bombards even at the edge of Irusk's CA. It actually managed to bring down Irusk to two wounds with a boosted bombard shot. I promptly downed his bombards by taking out its sub cortex with Widowmaker snipes and Eiryss Death Bolts.

I had superior numbers by the time Vlad took to hide behind BOK and Wind Wall. I would have tried to heal Irusk back up before whittling down Vlad with a Winterguard Mortar or Irusk's Airburst. Or corner or bait him somehow so that Vlad gets charged. Battle Lusted CMA from charging Winterguard was my alternative, or have Irusk charge himself; but no need to add insult to injury as Dick already conceded anyhow.

Routing the Lich

The steam wagon's solid doors slammed open with a loud bang as a large billow of black smoke from a berserker's exhausts marked its activation. Hefting a pair of massive axes of brutal design, Kommandant Irusk prodded the Khadoran warjack with his will. Arrows rained from the trees, riddling upon the shields of nearby pikemen uselessly.

"They are Nyss, kommandant," the voice, barely a whisper but strong enough to be heard amidst the clamor around them, came from a manhunter that seemed to appear behind Irusk. "It is Cylena."

"Asphyxious must be desperate," Irusk muttered, "putting his trust upon the living." The Khadoran's mind reached towards the berserker's cortex, directing it towards the ridge where the mercenary Nyss Hunters may have been. The kommandant felt the cortex groan under the strain, so Irusk let go of the jack immediately before he caused the warjack to explode. The warcaster stood rigid, but was still aware of what was around him.

"Ra'du," Irusk ordered the manhunter, "The Lich will have one of his spellcasting thralls. I want it found and I want it destroyed. That and any other bonejack you might run into. Take Eiryss with you and join up with Kapitan Anya and her widowmakers, understood?" With a grunt as an affirmation, the manhunter disappeared into the shadows.

Irusk turned to the battle in front of him. Drawing arcane energies around him, the Khadoran warcaster called forth rain.

+++

His forces lay strewn around him, burning in green hellfire or pinioned with Nyss arrows. And still the bane lord Tartarus drew closer with a host of bane knights, flitting in and out of thick fog.

"Pikeman," the kommandant shouted at one of the remaining Iron Fangs, at the same time churning the soldier's blood with Battle Lust. "The Lich is spent. For the Motherland! Charge!"

The pikemen still smoldered with Cryxian fire, but they hefted themselves up upon their long weapons, their eyes burning with sheer hatred. With a loud cry, strong and trained legs propelled the Iron Fangs across the field, their blasting pikes exploding as they contacted the Iron Lich.

+++


"Make sure the men receive immediate medical attention," commanded Irusk, the battlefield in eerie silence after the Cryx disappeared in a belching smoke.

"You were utterly careless, mage hunter," the Khadoran's words were directed at Eiryss. One of the Khadoran medics attempted to issue treatment on the elf, but the mage hunter irritatedly swatted his hands away.

"I do not need your help, Khadoran," Eiryss replied, "I will tend to my wounds myself." With a low groan, the elf drifted to unconsciousness. Instinctively, Irusk moved to catch the elf.

The medic turned to his kommandant, his expression inquiring as what to do next.

"Leave her, komrade," Irusk's tone did not change, "If she says she can tend to herself, let her. I just hope she becomes of more use to us in the coming battles. Our journey is long."

"Yes, kommandant. I will tend to the others instead." With a curt bow, the medic hurried away to the other wounded.

+++

Scenario: 500 points SR3 Beta Assassins
Opponent: Fred Escalona
Opposing warcaster: Iron Lich Asphyxious

It was sheer dumb luck that Fred made a mistake of having Asphyxious move out of combat while he was engaged with several Battle Lusted IFP with Undying Loyalty. But it was purely just dumb of me of having my Eiryss within arrow range of his Nyss hunters. I'll be reading more on their absolute threat range soon enough.

For the Motherland

Routing the Lich
Iron Lich Asphyxious launched an ambush as Kommandant Irusk was leaving the Riversmet camp.

Superiority
Vladimir Tzepesci the Dark Prince has his own agenda.

Godhead's Folly
Komandant Irusk clashes with the Harbinger of Menoth. Her Godhead tactically subdued by Khador.

Blood of the Land
Cygnar's Commander Adept Nemo confronts Zevanna Agha, the Old Witch of Khador. The Witch and her Scrapjack disappearing and reappearing all about the battlefield, Nemo falls as Zevanna bursts forth from a massive flock of night-black crows.